Business Sector-Focus or Sector-Agnostic? Why the Right M&A Partner Should Be Both

When it comes to choosing an M&A advisor, many business owners wrestle with a common question: Should I work with a firm that knows my industry inside and out, or one that brings a broader perspective and wider reach? 

It’s a fair question. A sector-focused M&A firm brings deep expertise, relationships and insight into specific industries. They understand the nuances, value drivers and trends that shape deal-making in those spaces. On the other hand, a sector-agnostic firm offers a flexible, research-driven approach. They’re not limited by industry boundaries and can uncover surprising buyer matches based on strategic fit, not sector label. 

At Deal Leaders International (DLI), we believe business owners shouldn’t have to choose. You deserve an advisor who brings the best of both worlds, and that’s exactly what we offer. 

The Power of Sector Focus 

At DLI, we’ve built deep knowledge and a strong track record in several core sectors, including (but not limited to) mining services, IT and software, industrial, manufacturing, and retail. 

This focus gives us direct access to active buyers, investors and strategic players in these industries. We understand what drives value in these sectors – whether it’s intellectual property, client concentration, compliance or capital efficiency. This sector insight helps us align businesses with the right buyers faster, navigate specific challenges with confidence and ultimately close better deals. 

Why Being Sector-Agnostic Still Works, When You Do It Right 

Our strength doesn’t stop with our core sectors. DLI’s research-based methodology allows us to succeed even in industries where we don’t have a long track record. 

Every business we work with undergoes a custom discovery process. We build a unique go-to-market strategy based on the strengths of the business, its growth potential and position in the value chain, not just the industry it's in. 

We then map out the buyer universe based on strategic fit. Our ability to look beyond industry norms gives our clients access to a much broader, and often more competitive, buyer pool. 

Why This Dual Capability Matters 

Too often, firms that claim to be specialists limit their client base to what’s easy or familiar. That leaves many great businesses overlooked, simply because they fall outside a narrow focus. 

At DLI, we don’t force your business to fit into our model. Rather, we shape our process around your business. Whether you’re in one of our specialist sectors or breaking new ground, you can expect: 

• A tailored strategy based on your goals and value drivers 

• Access to a wide range of buyers who understand your potential 

• Deal-making expertise built on both sector insight and rigorous research 

The best M&A outcomes come from an advisor that blends sector-specific expertise with a sector-agnostic mindset, a firm that’s confident where it knows the terrain, but curious and strategic when the map is new. 

At DLI, our process works across sectors because it’s grounded in research and relationships. Our results speak for themselves. 

✓ We bring buyers to the table 100% of the time.  

✓ On average, our clients receive four qualified offers per deal. 

✓ We achieve a 30% premium on pricing versus market averages. 

✓ We’re 300% more successful than the competition at closing deals. 

If you’re considering going to market, let’s start a conversation. We’ll help you explore your options, define your goals and chart the best path forward. 

About Deal Leaders International

Deal Leaders International (DLI) is a boutique M&A advisory firm specialising in helping business owners and executives, with a business EBITDA between R20 million and R300 million per year, engineer their growth-to-exit journey.  

We go beyond traditional advisory services, partnering with our clients to design, execute and optimise strategies that achieve maximum value when selling their businesses.  

Our mission is to empower our clients to achieve outcomes that align with their financial, professional and personal goals while positioning their businesses as highly attractive to the right buyers.  

As the Africa representative of the Pandea Global M&A Network, we offer our clients both local and international expertise and experience. With 69 offices in 34 countries, and over 2500 successfully completed transactions with a combined deal value over €30 billion, DLI offers deep market insights, practical expertise and a results-driven approach to prepare and successfully execute on business growth and exit strategies.